Cal's Texas contingent eager to take on Longhorns

CAL FOOTBALL

Published 4:00 am, Sunday, December 18, 2011

Photo: Matt York, ASSOCIATED PRESS

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California defensive back Josh Hill (23) celebrates his interception with teammate Steve Williams (1) against Arizona State during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011, in Temp, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) less

California defensive back Josh Hill (23) celebrates his interception with teammate Steve Williams (1) against Arizona State during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011, in ... more

Photo: Matt York, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cal's Texas contingent eager to take on Longhorns

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Deep in the heart of Texas, a select number of young men yearn to get the heck out of the Lone Star State.

Ten of them found their way onto the Cal football roster for 2011. Call them the Lone Star Golden Bears, prominent now that Cal is playing Texas in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego on Dec. 28.

Their individual motivations to play a game against the dominant university in their home state range from keen to something a little cooler than lukewarm.

"I never really liked Texas at all, even when they were recruiting me," said Daniel Lasco, a redshirt freshman tailback for the Bears. "My uncle went to A&M. I got Aggie in my blood. UT vs. A&M, big rivals."

"It's an enormous game," said defensive back Josh Hill, who had 48 tackles and two interceptions this season. "I have a lot of family and friends in Texas. Beating Texas would be great for our team. It'd be a nice thing to have on your resume, beating Texas."

Said defensive line coach Tosh Lupoi, "This game is something special for our Texas guys. It's good to see the extra excitement."

While Texas has just two Californians on its roster, Cal coach Jeff Tedford and his staff have tapped a nice little recruiting vein in the state, in particular Houston. Five Cal players are from the Houston area, with four from the Dallas area and one from Plano.

Credit for the haul of Texas talent goes to Cal linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator Kenwick Thompson, a Houston native.

Texas produces such a bounty of high school football talent, they can't all go to Texas or Texas A&M. There's plenty left over for outlanders willing to work the state.

"Over the years we've had good success in Texas," Tedford said. "There's different fits for different kids. It's a prime opportunity to play Texas, a good opportunity to play in the Holiday Bowl. It's not just (for) recruiting in Texas."

That being said, one of Cal's top recruits for 2012, offensive tackle Christian Okafor (6 feet 6, 300 pounds), is a Texan, from Houston. He gave a verbal commitment to play for the Bears in advance of the Feb. 1 national signing date, according to Rivals.com.

For Cal this season, six of its Lone Star Golden Bears are freshmen, with all spending their first year in the program as redshirts. Lasco and fellow tailback Darren Ervin will compete for playing time behind Isi Sofele in 2012. The others are offensive lineman Chris Adcock, linebacker Nathan Broussard, kicker Benjamin Calder and defensive back Adrian Lee.

Sophomore Steve Williams started every game at right cornerback and had 41 tackles, 11 pass breakups and two interceptions. Juniors Hill and nose guard Kendrick Payne saw significant playing time this season.

Cal's only senior from Texas is quarterback Brock Mansion, who started four games in 2010 but did not play this season beyond holding for kicks early in the year.

Hill was a high school teammate of Payne's in Houston and was not initially on Cal's recruiting to-do list but eventually followed him to Berkeley.

"Texas has never been on my radar, but it will be special for our team," said Hill. "Growing up I liked Auburn, Oklahoma, Florida and Florida State."

The one Lone Star Golden Bear with a reason to have a chip on either side of his shoulder pads is Williams, who said, "I wasn't recruited by Texas. That was the only team in the Big 12 I wasn't recruited by. I never really looked at Texas as the school I wanted to go to."

Not being recruited by Texas is something Tedford could use as Holiday Bowl motivation for his Lone Star Golden Bears.

"When they recruit, they get everyone they want," Tedford said of coach Mack Brown's program. "People are standing in line to go to Texas."

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